Charlene was an exceptional doula to my family. She helped my husband and I welcome our second child in North Vancouver this summer and I don't know what we would have done without her. She was compassionate, knowledgable, extremely skilled at birthing support, and helped hold us all together during a challenging labour, as well as provided us with all kinds of helpful support before and after the delivery. I can't say enough kind things about her, she thought of all the small things to make the journey easier for us, she comes highly recommended.
— Juniper R.
I can barely put into words how amazing my experience with Char has been. But I will do my best, because honestly, there's no better doula who will support a woman during birth. I was pregnant with my fourth child, and after three hospital births, I knew I wanted to have my baby at home. My husband wanted a support person there to show him how he can be apart of the birth, and for someone else to be able to support me. After reading some ads from other doulas, Char's immediately stuck out to me. She wanted to support my want of having a physiological birth. So, after meeting and aligning on how we both view birth, Char became my Doula. She visited and educated my husband and I multiple times leading up to my labour, and was only ever a text or phone call away. She supported my early labor and rushed over the following morning when my water broke. She was the pillar my husband and I needed. There was no anxiety, no pressure, just the three of us totally in sync to welcome my baby into the world. I am beyond grateful for everything she has done, before, during, and after my birth. The relaxation techniques, and counter pressure she provided I believe moved my labor to progress as quickly as it did. I never felt more safe during child birth than I did with Char there! I cannot recommend her enough, and would have her as my doula every time!
— Stephanie Lindsay
Charlene provided the perfect experience and covered all of my needs! She's incredibly prepared to coach through coping measures, keep the environment calm, and provide comfort! When I was at my most vulnerable she still treated me with dignity. She passed no judgment and really helped me get through a difficult time. I'm grateful to have had someone so calm and gentle to be with me on such an important day. I cannot stress enough how amazing she is. Everyone needs a Charlene for their birth experience.
— Chelsea M.
Hello, my name is Vianey, and I'm here to share my experience with Charlene. Charlene was a being of light who came into my life just when I most needed help, companionship, and understanding. From the first day I met her, I realized she was a great source of support. Charlene gave me all the information and emotional support during and after childbirth. She was always attentive to me, taught me some childbirth techniques, and accompanied me throughout the entire process. Her massages and words of encouragement were extremely helpful. Thank you so much, Charlene, for having your company and support during this wonderful stage of my life. I highly recommend her and will always be grateful for all her support.
— Vianey
Char was a God-send. This woman 100% earned a 10/10 rating. We mostly needed support with 2 other young children, although she was amazing with all of them. She went above and beyond to help in any way possible with the allotted time we had. She gifted us with ingredients and handwritten instructions for the best soup I've ever had, and a beautiful baby blanket from an Elder. She passed along a badly-needed breast pump, helped organize our home and was genuinely respectful in all interactions. Her gentle spirit & positive energy added warmth to our home. She was flexible, energetic and kind. The kids are still asking when they will see her again. The time she shared was a blessing. Anyone fortunate enough to have her as a doula should consider themselves lucky.
— Angeline
It was a privilege to have Charlene Labrador as my doula in pregnancy, during birth, and postpartum. Her calm demeanour and peaceful energy made me and my partner feel at ease while navigating such a monumental life experience for the first time. Chars laid back, good humoured, patient personality had us looking forward to our appointments. Char is not only a very knowledgeable doula, but is a yoga instructor as well. I have scoliosis, so she showed me yoga poses and stretches that really helped with the body pain that I was experiencing in pregnancy and after birth. The breathing techniques she taught me had me feeling grounded and empowered during anxious and painful moments. The mantras and positive affirmations she shared with me were so helpful too. Char also offered massage while I was in labour, and it relaxed me so much that I managed to fall asleep for a bit during contractions at the hospital. She’s truly amazing! Char helped make sure I was nourished by providing pregnancy tea filled with healing plant medicines. I'm hypoglycemic, so she arranged for me to have healthy, energizing snacks and plenty of hydration at the hospital as well. I felt so cared for. As Indigenous people, my partner and I have intergenerational trauma regarding hospitals and institutions. To have Char advocate for us was huge, and the whole experience helped me gain some trust for the medical system. It felt like a breakthrough for me, as someone who was raised to be wary of hospitals and western medicine. I feel very lucky and blessed to have had Char help me bring my son earthside safely. If I could do it all again, I’d want her on my team. I highly recommend her.
— Shawn Bourks
